SA does not consider Hamas a terrorist organisation, reiterates Pandor

CAPE TOWN - International Relations Minister Naledi Pandor has once again outlined that South Africa does not consider Palestinian military group Hamas as a terrorist organisation.

Pandor was responding to more written Parliamentary questions about the country's support for Palestine amid Israel's continued attack on Gaza. 

There has been a prolonged conflict between Israel and Hamas since the group killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel in October 2023.

Since then, Israel has responded with attacks where over 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in air and ground strikes. 

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Democratic Alliance (DA) Member of Parliament (MP) Greg Krumbock asked Pandor in a written question whether it's her department's position to consider Hamas as the legitimate government of the people of Gaza.

Krumbock said Hamas has been designated by certain countries like the United States, and the European Union as a terrorist group.

However, Pandor stated that South Africa's position on Hamas is in line with the United Nations.

She also maintained that there are "open lines of communication" with all Palestinian political formations, including Fatah, and Hamas among others. 

Pandor also earlier in a separate written reply denied claims that South Africa received money or resources to pursue its case against Israel at the International Court of Justice and that the country was the "legal arm" of Hamas.